Media

Housing Rights works to achieve positive change by promoting and protecting the rights of people in housing need. We work to make sure that the voices of the people we help are heard and their problems are reported.

We are happy to provide spokespersons who can comment on a range of housing issues such as:

Welfare reform and housing
Finding accommodation
Homelessness
Repossession
Rights when renting privately
Housing conditions

If you would like information, comment, or would like to speak to one of our spokespeople email us at [email protected] or telephone 02890 245640.

Press releases

Below you'll find some of our recent press releases explaining the difficulties people in Northern Ireland face when trying to find or keep a suitable home.

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Four leading housing organisations are calling for urgent assurances that key legislation will be passed in the coming weeks.

8 February 2022

The Chartered Institute of Housing NI, Homeless Connect, Housing Rights and the NI Federation of Housing Associations have issued a joint statement expressing concern that the political situation at Stormont will impact on both the Private Tenancies Bill and the welfare mitigations legislation.

Housing advice charity warns thousands of families could be thrown into housing debt over the coming months.

1 October 2021

Households in Northern Ireland are in danger of falling even deeper into housing poverty over the forthcoming months, according to local housing advice charity Housing Rights.

With the withdrawal of government financial support measures introduced at the start of the pandemic coupled with soaring living costs, it is becoming more difficult for households to manage, with many accruing debts in order to get by.

Housing Rights welcomes extension of emergency measures giving private renters continued protection against eviction

31 August 2021

Leading housing advice charity, Housing Rights, has welcomed the extension of emergency measures which will ensure private renters continue to have enhanced protection against eviction during the period of COVID-19.

Housing Rights sees two and a half times increase in the number of private tenants contacting them for advice about their landlord selling up

14 December 2020

In the past year, a local charity has seen a 2.5 fold increase in the number of people seeking help because their landlord is selling their home.

Housing Rights advice manager Brenda Parker stressed the importance of private renters understanding their rights, and not feeling pressured to move early just because the property is for sale.

Housing Rights welcomes extension of legislation to protect Private Tenants from Eviction

19 August 2020

Housing Rights strongly welcomes Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín’s announcement of an extension to emergency measures designed to protect private tenants from eviction during the COVID-19 crisis.

An extended 12-week notice period must now be given in all cases where a private landlord wants a tenant to leave the property until at least 31 March 2021. The extended notice period was originally due to end on 30 September 2020.

New Housing Mediation Service in demand during Covid-19 crisis

9 July 2020

The Housing Mediation Service operated by local charity Housing Rights and funded by the Department for Communities, offers tenants and landlords in the private rented sector a new way of finding agreements that are sustainable and satisfactory for both parties.

Housing Rights welcomes new law giving private renters more protection against eviction

6 May 2020

Leading housing advice charity, Housing Rights, has welcomed the official passage of emergency legislation which gives private renters enhanced protection against eviction during the period of Covid19.

The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 was passed by the NI Assembly on the 28th April and came into effect on 5th May 2020. The law means that, from yesterday, the minimum notice period a private landlord can give to a tenant is 12 weeks.

Commenting on the change, Kerry Logan, Policy Officer at Housing Rights stated;

Bedroom tax mitigations to be extended beyond March 2020 Cliff Edge

3 February 2020

Leading housing advice charity, Housing Rights, has today (Monday 3rd February) welcomed an announcement by the Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA, that legislation will be introduced to extend the bedroom tax mitigation beyond March 2020, when this vital protection was otherwise due to end.

Speaking about the announcement, Housing Rights Policy & Practice Manager Kate McCauley said:

Almost 9 in 10 homes unaffordable for people on housing benefit

11 October 2019

New research launched today by advice charity Housing Rights shows that renting privately in Northern Ireland is becoming increasingly unaffordable for people who rely on housing benefit to pay their rent. Almost 9 out of 10 of rental properties are out of reach for people receiving Housing Benefit with the research showing that as little as 12% of properties in the sector would have their rent fully covered by the amount of benefit available.

Funding gives NI renters a voice

4 July 2019

Local advice charity Housing Rights has been given funding to strengthen the voice of those renting privately in Northern Ireland.

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